All the freebies British Gas gives to its millions of customers including £150 payment and cash grants --[Reported by Umva mag]

BRITISH Gas offers a variety of help to its customers, which is worth being aware of if you are struggling this winter.

The UK’s biggest energy supplier was founded back in 1812 and has over eight million customers.

The company has been running a number of schemes to help its customers who are struggling financially.

It comes as millions will see their energy bill rise by £149 this winter after Ofgem‘s new price cap came into force earlier this month.

Households previously paid £1,568 a year but the figure is now set to rise by nearly £150 to £1,717.

The government has also axed its £300 Winter Fuel Payment for over 10million pensioners who are not on means-tested benefits.

Free cash to help with energy bills

British Gas has a fund open to pre-payment meter and credit customers who have found themselves in debt worth up to £1,700.

The Individual and Families Fund was first set up in 2021 to help households struggling with energy debt.

This scheme’s support is available to British Gas and non-British Gas customers.

However, if your provider is Ovo Energy, E.ON Next, EDF Energy, Scottish Power, Octopus Energy or Utilita it asks your go to them for assistance first.

There are certain criteria that you need to meet to be considered for the Individual and Families Fund, including:

• Pre-payment meter customers must have between £50 and £1,700 of energy debt
• Credit customers must have between £250 and £1,700 of energy debt
• You live in England, Scotland, or Wales
• You have not received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the last 2 years
• You must be seeking a grant to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account
• The account must be in your name and relate to your main residence
• You have received help from a money advice agency within the last six months

Customers with energy debts worth more than £1,700 will not be eligible for support through the fund.

You can check out your eligibility for the scheme here.

Match debt repayments

Earlier this year, British Gas also launched a £15million “You Pay: We Pay” initiative.

This scheme works by matching 100% of a customer’s energy debt repayments to help them clear their arrears faster.

For example, if a customer pays £100, British Gas will pay off £100, too, effectively wiping half the amount owed and getting them back on track sooner.

The scheme opened in June and June and eligible customers will be contacted directly – they won’t need to apply.

A detailed assessment will be made to determine if customers qualify for the scheme but broadly, they must:

• Be in or facing fuel poverty
• Must have obtained or will obtain debt advice 
• Have been a British Gas customer for at least six months
• Pre-agree a payment amount following the assessment

You must be a British Gas customer for at least six months to be considered.

Help with energy bills worth £150

British Gas is giving eligible customers £150 worth of extra cash through the government’s Warm Home Discount scheme.

The payment is issued to those on the lowest incomes and is designed to cover the additional heating costs over the colder months.

Households in England and Wales don’t have to apply to get the cash and receive it automatically.

However, some Scottish households do have to apply for the discount.

Eligible households get the cash credited to their electricity bill between October and March 2024.

To qualify for the Warm Home Discount, you need to claim either the guaranteed credit element of pension credit or a different means-tested benefit, including:

• Income support
• Income based jobseeker’s allowance
• Income related employment and support allowance
• Housing benefit
• Universal Credit
• Tax credits
• The “Savings Credit” part of pension credit

If you weren’t claiming any of the above benefits on August 11, 2024, you won’t be eligible for the payment.

What other support is available?

You do not need to be a customer at British Gas to get help with your energy bills this winter.

 EDF has a customer support fund which on average wipes £1,250 off customers’ bills. 

It is available to vulnerable customers experiencing hardship. 

To apply, visit EDF’s website and make sure you have details of your account number (find it on your energy bills or EDF emails) and the current debt balance on all EDF accounts you have.

Meanwhile, Octopus Energy offers a range of support, including cash from its Octopus Energy Assist Fund.

It could also include loaning a thermal imagery camera to find heat leaks in your home, which you can fix to reduce energy usage and your bill.

It also conducts home energy visits to discuss how households can reduce their usage and gives out free electric blankets.

You might also be able to get help with essential costs from your local council through a programme called the Household Support Fund (HSF).

The funding is designed to help people who are vulnerable or can’t afford to pay for necessities like energy bills, water bills, and food.

Some councils offer food vouchers to families during the school holidays, as well through the scheme.

Eligibility criteria vary by council, so you need to check your local authority’s website to see what’s available and how to apply.

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